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many disadvantages of construction and arrangement which are
a decided handicap to the efficient discharge of the Work of these
Centres.
This matter has engaged the attention of the Council for some
time past, and during the year steps were taken to provide more
suitable premises for this service in the Dulwich and North Camberwell
districts. Negotiations were entered into with the owners of
the Dulwich Infant Welfare Centre for the sale of the existing
building to the Council with a view to its demolition and the subsequent
erection of an up-to-date Municipal Centre on the site.
The owners of these premises were prepared to sell, and the
Council has acquired the property for this purpose.
In the northern district of the Borough the Council has agreed
to acquire from the London County Council the cleared site of
certain properties which formed the subject of action under the
Clearance Area provisions of the Housing Act with a view to the
erection of an Infant Welfare Centre on part of the land, to replace
the existing Voluntary Association Infant Welfare Centre at Kempshead
Hall, Kempshead Road.
The erection of a London County Council Housing Estate at
Sumner Road, Peckham, offered an opportunity to the Council of
enquiring of that Authority whether suitable accommodation could
be provided on the Estate for an Infant Welfare Centre to serve
the needs of this district. The London County Council agreed to
do so, and at the end of the year building operations were well
advanced.
This additional Infant Welfare Centre, which is situated in the
St. Luke's Centre Area, will enable the Council to make adjustments
in the boundaries of certain Infant Welfare Centre districts in the
Borough.
There are ten Municipal and Voluntary Associations Infant
Welfare Centres in the Borough. Each of these centres serves a
defined area and mothers are encouraged to attend the Centre for
the district in which they live. The consultation work of the Centres
is conducted by part-time Medical Officers. Tables recording the
attendances and visits at these Centres during the year appear on
pages 28 and 29.
Health Visitors and Home Visiting.
There are fifteen health visitors attached to the infant welfare
centres serving the Borough. Of these five are employed by the
Council and ten by Voluntary Associations undertaking Maternity
and Infant Welfare services. The duties undertaken by these
Officers include routine home visiting of infants and children not
attending school, visits to expectant mothers, attendance at infant